Recently Ive been given the task of sorting out LiPo Battery Charging for a project Im involved with. Id like some advice please.
1: I can find charger ICs and Gas gauge ICs (which appear to perform charging as well) . To implement a charger and gas gauge solution, can I use simply a bQ40Z50? Is it better to have both a charger IC and a gas gauge such as BQ40Z50?
2:Using the BQ40Z50EVM I note that the pack and the load are connected to the same terminals.The datasheet for the BQ40Z50 discusses how the device may be used for Cell Undervoltage protection, but I cannot see how that can be implemented if both the load and the Pack are connected directly together (Contrast that with say the BQ24735EVM where there are supply connections, Pack connections and System power connections, all completely separate.How would Cell undervoltage protection be implemented using a BQ40Z50 using the EVM as a starting point for the design?